{"nrhp_refnum":"86001946","name":"Wells Building","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"201--205 Federal Plaza W","address_restricted":false,"city":"Youngstown","county":"Mahoning County","state":"OH","lat":41.10096505700005,"lon":-80.65195766199997,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1986-07-23","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Commerce","Architecture"],"significance_levels":["state","local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A four-story commercial building at 201-205 Federal Plaza West on the corner of Federal Plaza and Hazel Street in downtown Youngstown, Mahoning County, Ohio, built about 1915 with a terra cotta facade.","why_significant":"The nomination argues the building contributed to the early 20th century development of downtown Youngstown, and West Federal Street in particular, as a commercial center. It is also described as one of the earliest and most highly ornamented examples of the decorative glazed terra cotta facades that distinguished West Federal Street.","narrative":"Located at 201-205 Federal Plaza West in downtown Youngstown, this four-story commercial building was built about 1915 on the site of the former Hotel Sherman. It has a steel frame, a rusticated white glazed terra cotta facade, and a cornice decorated with swags, lion's heads and modillions. The frieze carries vases and urns and the name \"Wells.\" The building was likely constructed through the estate of Thomas H. Wells, a real estate developer who built several downtown commercial blocks before his death in 1905. Over the years it housed retail stores, including ladies clothing shops, with offices on the upper floors. Its corner position gives both the Federal Plaza and Hazel Street sides a strong architectural presence, and the Hazel Street side is the more intact of the two. Although porcelain panels altered the Federal Street storefront, the building was recognized as a well-detailed example of terra cotta use in early 20th century Youngstown, when commercial success supported quality materials.","period_of_significance":null,"architect_builder":null,"architectural_style":"Classical Revival","criteria":["A","C"],"status_note":"The inventory form lists the present use as vacant and the exterior condition as good. The Federal Street storefront has been altered with porcelain panels.","vacant_flag":true,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:53:15.074241-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_OH/86001946.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/86001946/4cb09e7bd9-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/86001946/4cb09e7bd9-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Nyttend","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wells_Building_in_Youngstown.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Nyttend</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wells_Building_in_Youngstown.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71985841","wikipedia":null,"wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138569041"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/ohio/mahoning-county/wells-building-86001946/"}